It is full of iyona, she will be like a layona !!!
This is some body else's song. Date is 29th September 2013 and subject matter is coconut.
If you are in a village, and want to sell your coconut, a dealer would offer you 5 rupees. Well what can 5 rupees buy.
Look prices today. ( conversion rate 67 rupees to US Dollar this morning)
Nendran type of banana 60 rupees a kilo.
Sardines 80 to 100 rupees
Beef 200 rupees
Palakadan matta rice 45 rupees
Most vegetables 50 rupees.
If you want to drink, coconut water while in Koch city, you would have to pay Rupees 25.
If you want to buy a coconut for cooking from a vegetable shop, you need to pay something between 12 to 16 Rupees.
In Kochi, Kerala, India, advertised rates for plucking coconuts is Rs. 15 to Rs25 per tree. Actually, if you ask one climber, he might ask you Rs. 50 to 75. So you need to sell fifteen coconuts to recover the cost of plucking it. Well, coconut farming is no longer a lively hood for many.
Years ago, those who had some land, never spent any money to take care of the trees, but just went around and got them plucked. They were known as land lords, and lived off coconut.
Then there was land reforms. Tenants who lived in these land became owners, land lords became coolies.
Slowly, palm oil form Indonesia and Malasia, invaded indian market. Price of rice moved up from one rupee to 40 or 50. Coconut price stagnated. Traditional coconut climbers were given scholerships and they all became Government Officials, there was no one to climb the palms. The rate for climbing , climbed the heights. Today, a climber can make Rs 500 to Rs 1500.
But where are the coconut palms. A farmer commented, only the stupid will ever plant a coconut tree. Who will climb? One with the land and time could plant cucumbers and capsicums in sheltered enviorments, for , Government gives away 75 percent subsidy for green houses.
Back to coconut tree / palm
There are varieties that, bear fruit, in 3 years, before they become tall to climb. Why not try them. When these coconut palms become unpluckable, even from a step ladder, why not chop them off.
There is lot of talk about Neera. That is the name from toddy when is not fermented. Toddy is delicious and nutritious.Only one cannot buy it anywhere in Kerala. There are plenty of toddy shops all over in Kerala, and they sell synthetic todday. God knowns what happens to the systems of chaps who drink in these places.
In Kerala, the coconut palm was considered, kalpa wriksha, or tree from heaven. It gives water, edible kernal, timber for house building, rope for various applications, fronds, or leaves for making a tatching, and finally, sugar from toddy, and intoxicants, from fermented toddy. Uses are many, but farmers get rs. 5 still, and trader sells it for Rs. 10 or 15.
Lesson number one. If you want to make moneny, don't be farmer. just be trader.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
old age, lonelyness, sickness and children
Recently (July 2013) an advertisement in the Malayala Manorama classified ran an ad, that reads something like this.
" if you are above 55 and looking for old age shelter and care, we have plans for a retirement home.
We are located in Irinjalakuda.
Signed AB , lawyer
Signed CD, doctor
Signed EF, doctor "
In Kerala, this year 500,000 students will appear for matriculation examination.
This year admission in the first grade (first standard) is 250,000 only.
Signs of times. Many couple do not get children, many opt for just one child, and many couples are postponing. Many couples have migrated.
End result, the state is aging, very, very fast.
Today there was report in every Malayalam newspaper, that a woman died and her son and daughter never checked on her over one month.
The woman lived alone, and had no contact with neighbours, apparently died of a heart attack.
If you have a need to live alone, why not have a colony for old people, where, some one will check on you, every day, there will be a doctor on call, drivers to rush you to hospital, clean and cook for you. Cooking need be only in a community kitchen. Only you need to tell in advance, whether you need dosa, uppu mavu, or eggs, or cereals, what so ever. A community of 200 people will have reduced costs on food, laundry, house keeping, laundry etc.
house maintenance, like electrical works, plumping etc would be easy because, one could have dedicated workers for this. No worry on paying utilities either.
Why then, old people want to live alone, in big houses, even when there is threat to their lives.
Women, old women too, love to wear gold ornaments, all the time. There are instances, where, old couples are attacked, and robbed. In the process, death is a factor.
For your security, women, should avoid, wearing anything that looks like gold. Any takers?
Now need of the time is, good retirement homes, where one need not shop for provisions, go to various offices to pay utility bills, ... Some one should come to your accommodation, clean up the place, make beds, tend your garden, (if you are on the ground floor) cook for you in the common kitchen, the food that you like and told them one week in advance.
As a retiree,you should be able to read, join aerobic exercises, do yoga, plant garden, make flowers / vegetables grow, swim, play cards, or physical games like tennis , volleyball, even do social work.
Doing social work is something, every body should do to give back something to the society. You have lived so long, acquired many skills, that took many years. You could teach the community, what you have learned. You could be a consultant, on subject you have dealt with. A community of 200 could be gold mine of skills, and knowledge treasure. Ask a question, and someone among you will have an answer.
Don't give away all your money to your children, or don't spend your income on your children 100 percent.
If you are young, and or, if you family is young, you have long time to retire. You hope your children will take care of you when you are old. Well, you need a plan B. A secret reserve, that your family does not know. (some friend, or lawyer should know, just in case , some day you drop dead, or if a truck runs over you). The plan B is for comfortable retirement, without begging your children to look after you.
Whether you are young or old, start now. When you are old, and generate income, your children might not be able or willing to take care of you. Steady income from your secret investments would help.
" if you are above 55 and looking for old age shelter and care, we have plans for a retirement home.
We are located in Irinjalakuda.
Signed AB , lawyer
Signed CD, doctor
Signed EF, doctor "
In Kerala, this year 500,000 students will appear for matriculation examination.
This year admission in the first grade (first standard) is 250,000 only.
Signs of times. Many couple do not get children, many opt for just one child, and many couples are postponing. Many couples have migrated.
End result, the state is aging, very, very fast.
Today there was report in every Malayalam newspaper, that a woman died and her son and daughter never checked on her over one month.
The woman lived alone, and had no contact with neighbours, apparently died of a heart attack.
If you have a need to live alone, why not have a colony for old people, where, some one will check on you, every day, there will be a doctor on call, drivers to rush you to hospital, clean and cook for you. Cooking need be only in a community kitchen. Only you need to tell in advance, whether you need dosa, uppu mavu, or eggs, or cereals, what so ever. A community of 200 people will have reduced costs on food, laundry, house keeping, laundry etc.
house maintenance, like electrical works, plumping etc would be easy because, one could have dedicated workers for this. No worry on paying utilities either.
Why then, old people want to live alone, in big houses, even when there is threat to their lives.
Women, old women too, love to wear gold ornaments, all the time. There are instances, where, old couples are attacked, and robbed. In the process, death is a factor.
For your security, women, should avoid, wearing anything that looks like gold. Any takers?
Now need of the time is, good retirement homes, where one need not shop for provisions, go to various offices to pay utility bills, ... Some one should come to your accommodation, clean up the place, make beds, tend your garden, (if you are on the ground floor) cook for you in the common kitchen, the food that you like and told them one week in advance.
As a retiree,you should be able to read, join aerobic exercises, do yoga, plant garden, make flowers / vegetables grow, swim, play cards, or physical games like tennis , volleyball, even do social work.
Doing social work is something, every body should do to give back something to the society. You have lived so long, acquired many skills, that took many years. You could teach the community, what you have learned. You could be a consultant, on subject you have dealt with. A community of 200 could be gold mine of skills, and knowledge treasure. Ask a question, and someone among you will have an answer.
Don't give away all your money to your children, or don't spend your income on your children 100 percent.
If you are young, and or, if you family is young, you have long time to retire. You hope your children will take care of you when you are old. Well, you need a plan B. A secret reserve, that your family does not know. (some friend, or lawyer should know, just in case , some day you drop dead, or if a truck runs over you). The plan B is for comfortable retirement, without begging your children to look after you.
Whether you are young or old, start now. When you are old, and generate income, your children might not be able or willing to take care of you. Steady income from your secret investments would help.
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